South Korea tours & travel

Re-appearing on the world's travel radars, South Korea has emerged from history as a dynamic destination full of spirit and surprises.

Enchanting travellers with temples full of mystique, markets brimming with divine handicrafts and some of the most underrated cuisine in the world - isn't it about time you surrendered to South Korea's charms?

South Korea tour reviews

Catherine Vassili

South Korea is a fantastic place to travel for an intrepid food adventurer! Loads of delicious variety, and we learnt so much about Korean cuisine from our knowledgeable and professional tour leader Daniel. This is a busy tour with a little less free time than other intrepid trips we’ve done given that so much is packed into the 8 days, and you are staying somewhere different each evening. We would recommend staying in Seoul for a few more days at the end of the trip as there is lots to do. Highly recommended.

Elizabeth Wormell

This tour gives you the opportunity to sample a wide range of Korean food, visit markets and a micro brewery. Public transport is good and culture and visits to places other than Seoul are part of the trip.

Review submitted 16 Nov 2017

South Korea trip reviews

Our South Korea trips score an average of 4.25 out of 5
based on 12 reviews in the last year.

Best time to visit South Korea

Best time to visit South Korea

Autumn and spring are considered the optimal times to visit South Korea, as the extreme temperatures that are present during summer and winter can make travel uncomfortable at times. During autumn and spring expect moderate temperatures, a mild climate and less rain and humidity than at other times.

Geography and environment

Geography and environment

South Korea is located at the south end of the Korean Peninsula, between the Sea of Japan and the Yellow Sea. Separated from Japan by the Korea Strait and demarcated from the state of North Korea by Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), South Korea's terrain is a mix of flat lowlands and forested mountains. The coasts of South Korea are rocky and jagged, with thousands of islands (mostly inhabitable) scattered off the coastline.

Top 5 Culinary Delicacies of Korea

Top 5 Culinary Delicacies of Korea

1. Bibimbap

As one of Korea's standout dishes, bibimbap is a tasty concoction of meat, vegetables, egg and rice. Soy sauce, chilli paste, garlic and sesame oil all add flavour to this amazingly colourful dish found everywhere in Korea.

2. Kimchi

Kimchi is hailed as a nutritional powerhouse - packing a healthy punch of nutrients, vitamins and beneficial bacteria that makes it one of the world's healthiest superfoods. But most people don't eat these fermented vegetables for health reasons - it's the uniquely, tasty flavour and versatility that makes kimchi so popular in Korean cooking.

3. Jeon

These delicious, savoury pancakes are a standard of Korean cuisine. With hundreds of different varieties, jeon can be served with red meat, chicken, seafood, vegetables, tofu and even edible flowers.

4. Gimbap

Similar to sushi, these highly popular rice-based morsels feature fish, beef or crab, wrapped in seaweed with pickled or fresh vegetables. Available all over Korea, they are the perfect snack on the run or quick, cheap lunch to enjoy between sightseeing.

5. Mandu

Arriving in Korea by the way of Mongolia, mandu are essentially boiled, steamed or pan fried dumplings. A cheap, street food favourite, mandu can be filled with everything from pheasant to tofu, cucumber, beef and beyond.

Health and Safety

Health and Safety

Intrepid takes the health and safety of its travellers seriously, and takes every measure to ensure that trips are safe, fun and enjoyable for everyone. We recommend that all travellers check with their government or national travel advisory organisation for the latest information before departure:

South Korea travel FAQs

SOUTH KOREA
Australia: No - not required
Belgium: No - not required
Canada: No - not required
Germany: No - not required
Ireland: No - not required
Netherlands: No - not required
New Zealand: No - not required
South Africa: No - not required
Switzerland: No - not required
United Kingdom: No - not required
USA: No - not required

Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into South Korea. . Most travellers do not need visas for Korea for stays of up to 30 days. You must also have an onward or return ticket.

If you are a male of Korean origin whose name appears on the Korean family register, you may be liable for military service even if you are travelling on your foreign passport.

Tipping in some establishments (particularly more traditional ones) is considered impolite, and is sometimes indicated with a 'no tipping' sign! Western-style, tourist-orientated places, however, usually welcome and receive tips. Use your discretion.

With one of the most developed internet infrastructures in the world, accessing the internet is easy is South Korea. Wi-Fi hot spots and cyber cafes are easily found in the cities, although when travelling in remote areas please be aware that internet access may be harder to find.

Travellers should be able to use their mobile phones in South Korea's cities and urban areas, as coverage is good. As in other countries, rural and mountainous areas may have less mobile phone receptivity. Ensure global roaming is activated with your service provider before leaving home.

South Korea has a combination of squat toilets and western-style flushable toilets. It's a good idea to carry your own toilet paper and hand sanitizer or soap as these are rarely provided in public toilets.

Credit cards are usually accepted by hotels and large retailers. Smaller shops and restaurants may not accept credit cards, so always carry enough money to cover purchases, as paying with a credit card may not always be an option in South Korea.

Absolutely. All passengers travelling with Intrepid are required to purchase travel insurance before the start of your trip. Your travel insurance details will be recorded by your leader on the first day of the trip. Due to the varying nature, availability and cost of health care around the world, travel insurance is very much an essential and necessary part of every journey.

Responsible Travel

Intrepid is committed to travelling in a way that is respectful of local people, their culture, local economies and the environment. It's important to remember that what may be acceptable behaviour, dress and language in your own country, may not be appropriate in another. Please keep this in mind while travelling.

Top responsible travel tips for South Korea

1. Be considerate of South Korea’s customs, traditions, religion and culture.

2. Dress modestly and respectfully. Shoulders to knees should be covered, especially when entering places of worship.

3. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water.

4. Always dispose of litter thoughtfully, including cigarette butts.

5. When bargaining at markets, stay calm, be reasonable and keep a smile on your face. It's meant to be fun!

6. Learn some local language and don't be afraid to use it - simple greetings will help break the ice.